Television and film legend Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71.
Known for her legendary list of credits such as Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek and Beetlejuice, the star’s manager confirmed the sad news to Variety this evening (30 January).
The Canadian died at her home in Los Angeles today ‘following a brief illness’, with further details not yet given.
O’Hara’s incredible career spanned five decades, kicking off with Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television, for which she picked up her first Emmy.
She then went on to pick up another Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award and other accolades.
Between 1996 and 2006, O’Hara collaborated with Christopher Guest and appeared in a number of his mockumentary films including Best in Show and For Your Consideration.
And as well as appearing on screen, the icon voiced various roles for popular animations such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Little and Over the Hedge.
Most recently, she starred alongside Seth Rogen in Apple TV’s comedy hit The Studio and HBO drama The Last of Us.
Marking a resurgence in her career, these roles followed her unforgettable appearance as Moria Rose in Schitt’s Creek, which bagged her the second Emmy.
The second season of the newly Golden Globe winning The Studio had recently begun filming.
O’Hara previously spoke to LADbible about the show as she talked about never being able to know if Rogen was ‘stoned’ or ‘smoking all day’ during production.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever worked with anyone who is more aware of everything going on on the set. [Rogen] is director, producer, star in the scene and you’re so aware, so collaborative and so loose and fun, but on the money,” the comedy icon said. “It’s crazy. Really, [Rogen] is seriously impressive.”
In 2023, O’Hara reunited with Macaulay Culkin as the Home Alone child actor was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
With no one able to scream ‘KEVIN’ quite like her, the actor expressed how ‘proud’ she was of her on-screen son as she said: “Home Alone was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation … the reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together is because of Macaulay Culkin.”
The pair maintained a close friendship.
O’Hara married Bo Welch in 1992, after meeting the production designer on Beetlejuice, and the pair share two sons, Matthew and Luke.